Posture and body movement measuring system

Abstract

A system for measuring a living subject having a spine comprises a flexible strip, a first sensor, a processor, and a data storage device. The flexible strip, the first sensor, the processor, and the data storage device are located along the spine of the living subject. The first sensor, the processor and the data storage device are connected for collecting data related to bending of the flexible strip for determining a curvature of the spine of the living subject. The data from the first sensor is processed in the processor and stored in the storage device. One embodiment includes a transmitter for transmitting the data. Other embodiments include feedback and provide information about time duration in a posture.

1. A system for measuring posture of a living subject having a spine, comprising a lordosimeter sensor module single unit, wherein said lordosimeter sensor module single unit includes a flexible strip, a first sensor, a processor, and a data storage device, wherein said flexible strip includes said first sensor, wherein said lordosimeter sensor module single unit is for positioning along the spine of the living subject for monitoring curvature of the spine by converting bending of said flexible strip into a signal indicative of spinal curvature, wherein data derived from said first sensor related to bending of said flexible strip is processed in said processor and stored in said data storage device, wherein said processor is located in said single unit together with said first sensor. 
   
   
     2. A system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said first sensor includes a first solid state inclination measuring device. 
   
   
     3. A system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said processor includes a program for detecting a plurality of postures based on said curvature of the spine. 
   
   
     4. A system as recited in  claim 3 , wherein said processor includes a program for detecting at least one from the group consisting of a kyphotic curvature of the spine and a lordotic curvature of the spine. 
   
   
     5. A system as recited in  claim 3 , wherein said processor includes a program for detecting lateral curvature of the spine. 
   
   
     6. A system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said processor includes a program for detecting twisting of the spine. 
   
   
     7. A system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said lordosimeter sensor module single unit further comprises a component for measuring time duration, wherein said component for measuring time duration is for measuring the duration of time the subject has been in a posture. 
   
   
     8. A system as recited in  claim 7 , wherein said processor includes a program for determining whether said time duration exceeds a preset value. 
   
   
     9. A system as recited in  claim 8 , wherein said lordosimeter sensor module single unit further comprises a feedback mechanism for prompting the subject to move if said time duration exceeds said preset value. 
   
   
     10. A system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said processor includes a program to measure the time the living subject has had a measured curvature of the spine. 
   
   
     11. A system as recited in  claim 10 , wherein said processor includes a program to determine whether said time exceeds a preset value. 
   
   
     12. A system as recited in  claim 11 , wherein said lordosimeter sensor module single unit further includes a feedback mechanism, wherein said processor further includes a program to activate said feedback mechanism to prompt the subject to move if said time exceeds said preset value. 
   
   
     13. A system as recited in  claim 11 , wherein said processor includes a program to measure the time the living subject has had a kyphotic curvature of the spine and to determine whether said time exceeds a preset value. 
   
   
     14. A system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said lordosimeter sensor module single unit further includes a feedback mechanism, wherein said processor includes a program to determine whether magnitude of curvature of the spine exceeds a preset value, and wherein said processor further includes a program to activate said feedback mechanism to prompt the subject to move if said magnitude exceeds said preset value. 
   
   
     15. A system as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising a second sensor for attaching to the subject for distinguishing lying, sitting, and standing positions. 
   
   
     16. A system as recited in  claim 15 , wherein said second sensor includes a second solid state inclination measuring device for determining inclination with respect to the gravity vector. 
   
   
     17. A system as recited in  claim 16 , wherein said living subject includes a hip joint and a body segment below said hip joint, wherein said second solid state inclination measuring device is for attaching to said second body segment below said hip joint. 
   
   
     18. A system as recited in  claim 17 , further comprising a second sensor module, wherein said first sensor includes a first solid state inclination measuring device wherein said first solid state inclination measuring device is included in said lordosimeter sensor module single unit and wherein said second solid state inclination measuring device is included in said second sensor module. 
   
   
     19. A system as recited in  claim 18 , further comprising a third sensor module, wherein said third sensor module includes a third processor and a third data storage device, wherein said third sensor module is for attaching to a third body segment. 
   
   
     20. A system as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising an attaching structure, wherein said attaching structure is for attaching said lordosimeter sensor module single unit to the living subject. 
   
   
     21. A system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said lordosimeter sensor module single unit further includes a transmitter and a receiver, wherein said first sensor is connected to provide data to said transmitter for transmission to said receiver. 
   
   
     22. A system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said first sensor includes a strain gauge. 
   
   
     23. A system as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising a single housing, wherein said processor, said data storage device, and said sensor are located in said single housing. 
   
   
     24. A system as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising a single housing, wherein said processor and said data storage device are located in said single housing, wherein said sensor is located outside said single housing. 
   
   
     25. A system for communicating to a user, comprising a first sensor, a second sensor, a first processor, a second processor, a first storage device, a second storage device, and a feedback mechanism, wherein said first sensor, said first processor, and said first storage device are for placing on a first body segment of the user, wherein said second sensor, said second processor, and said second storage device are for placing on a second body segment of the user, wherein said first sensor, said first processor, said first storage device, said second sensor second processor, and said second storage device are connected so that multiple points of data from said first sensor and from said second sensor are processed in at least one from the group consisting of said first processor and said second processor to provide a time dependent output, wherein said time dependent output includes a measure of angle of said first body segment with respect to said second body segment, wherein said output is stored in at least one from the group consisting of said first storage device and said second storage device as a function of time, wherein at least one from the group consisting of said first processor and said second processor is programmed to direct said feedback mechanism to communicate to the user at least one from the group consisting of information based on said time dependent output and instruction based on said time dependent output, wherein data from said first sensor is independent of location of said second sensor. 
   
   
     26. A system as recited in  claim 25 , wherein at least one from the group consisting of said first processor and said second processor includes a program for directing said feedback mechanism to provide said at least one from the group consisting of information and instruction in response to said time dependent output indicating at least one from the group consisting of inactivity, activity of a joint during an interval of time that is less than a preset level of activity, a range of motion of a joint during an interval of time that is less than a preset range of motion, and vibration during an interval of time that is greater than a preset amount of vibration. 
   
   
     27. A system as recited in  claim 25 , wherein said first sensor and said second sensor are for determining posture, wherein said processor includes a program for providing feedback to the user based on time duration the subject has been in a posture. 
   
   
     28. A system as recited in  claim 27 , wherein said first sensor and said second sensor are for determining spine curvature. 
   
   
     29. A system as recited in  claim 27 , wherein at least one from the group consisting of said first processor and said second processor includes a program for determining whether said time duration exceeds a preset value. 
   
   
     30. A system as recited in  claim 29 , wherein said feedback mechanism is for prompting the subject to change said posture if said time duration exceeds said preset value.